ANGER OF THE GODS 213
but to climb the few steep steps into the railway carriage
without showing signs of pain would be quite impossible.
The bell rang. The sweat on Paderewskfs forehead was
the only thing that betrayed the nervous strain through
which he was passing. No, he could not possibly climb
these steps ; rather wrould he let the train go -without Mm.
On the second when the train actually began to move, he
jumped up the three steps with all the vigour of a young
man. But his friends on the platform could not see that
inside the carriage Marcel had just picked up his master on
the verge of collapse, his face distorted with pain and almost
unrecognisable.
In Paris M. Blondel, one of Paderewski's oldest friends,
suggested the name of a doctor in Orleans who was beginning
to become famous for Ms unorthodox and outstanding cures.
Dr. Choussou had the reputation of being sometMng of a
character. He was of a retiring disposition. Paderewski's
confidence had been shaken by the fruitless cures he had
undergone. Nevertheless he decided to see the doctor.
Dr. Choussou immediately adopted an entirely different
method ; he allowed Ms patient to move about instead of
remaining motionless in bed, and bandaged the legs in a
particular way. After a few weeks' treatment Paderewski
was able to go walking unattended. When the time for the
autumn tour arrived, he was cured and ready to start on Ms
strenuous professional journey across the Atlantic.